Automatic choke optimization and selection for managed pressure drilling
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A choke valve assembly, comprising:
- a primary choke in fluid communication with an outlet;
a secondary choke in fluid communication with the primary choke and the outlet;
a tertiary choke in fluid communication with the primary choke, the secondary choke, and the outlet; and
a control unit operatively coupled to the primary choke, the secondary choke, and the tertiary choke, wherein the control unit is programmed with instructions to automatically and concurrently adjust the primary choke, the secondary choke, and the tertiary choke in concert with each other to keep a coefficient of flow (CV) of the primary choke within a primary choke controllable range.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A choke valve assembly, system, and method can be used with a drill string in a wellbore to aid in controlling the bottom hole pressure during drilling of the wellbore. The choke valve assembly can have a primary choke and one or more supplemental chokes, where these choke valves each have a controllable range relative to the flow and pressure of drilling fluid passing through the assembly. A control unit can automatically actuate the primary choke and one or more supplemental chokes in order to both maintain the choke valves within their controllable ranges and concurrently maintain a consistent boom hole pressure in the connected wellbore.
33 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A choke valve assembly, comprising:
-
a primary choke in fluid communication with an outlet; a secondary choke in fluid communication with the primary choke and the outlet; a tertiary choke in fluid communication with the primary choke, the secondary choke, and the outlet; and a control unit operatively coupled to the primary choke, the secondary choke, and the tertiary choke, wherein the control unit is programmed with instructions to automatically and concurrently adjust the primary choke, the secondary choke, and the tertiary choke in concert with each other to keep a coefficient of flow (CV) of the primary choke within a primary choke controllable range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A drill string choke valve system, comprising:
-
a drill string deployed in a wellbore; a choke valve assembly coupled to and in fluid communication with the drill string deployed in the wellbore, wherein a flow of drilling return fluid generated by operation of the drill string passes through the choke valve assembly at a controlled pressure, the choke valve assembly comprising; a primary choke in fluid communication with an outlet; a secondary choke in fluid communication with the primary choke and the outlet; and a control unit operatively coupled to the primary choke and the secondary choke, wherein the control unit is programmed with instructions to automatically and concurrently adjust the primary choke and the secondary choke in concert with each other to keep a coefficient of flow (CV) of the primary choke within a primary choke controllable range. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for controlling a choke valve assembly, comprising:
-
opening a primary choke to allow gas or fluid flow through the primary choke; opening a secondary choke to allow gas or fluid flow through the secondary choke; monitoring a primary choke coefficient of flow (CV) in the primary choke with a control unit; determining if the primary choke CV is within a controllable range; and automatically adjusting the secondary choke in fluid communication with the primary choke, concurrently with the primary choke, based on the primary choke CV to allow an amount of gas or fluid to flow through the secondary choke in order to maintain or return the primary choke CV within the controllable range. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
Specification